Estuary location
The terminals are on the Thames estuary in Essex, not inside Greater London, so site access involves road transfers from the capital.
London · Ex-proof
Ex-Proof Smartphone in London
London is Europe's largest city economy and one of the world's major financial centres, so many suppliers, consultancies and head offices that approve equipment are based there. Gas network and utility sites add smaller classified areas. This page explains what to look for in an Ex-proof smartphone for London and the Thames, and where the IS-04Z1 stands against that list today.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Marking targetEx ib IIC T4Intrinsic safety, Zone 1 / 21 design target · certification in progress
AvailabilityQ4 2026via authorised distributors
Search topicEx-proof
DeviceSmartphone
RouteSpecification
WhereLondon
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for London and the Thames: pre-launch, designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), with certification in progress and no certificate issued.
For the record, no certificate exists for the IS-04Z1 today. The programme is under way ahead of a Q4 2026 launch. Operator approval runs on its own timeline. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · Ex-proof
Checklist: Ex-proof smartphone for London and the Thames
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Ex marking | Group, category, protection concept, gas group, temperature class | II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4 (target) |
| Gas group | IIA, IIB or IIC matched to the area drawing | IIC (target) |
| Temperature class | T-class below the ignition temperature of the gas | T4, 135 °C (target) |
| Where it applies | London and the Thames: Fuel storage terminals, Marine jetties, Road tanker loading | Classified by the site operator |
Product · London
The product behind this search: the SAMS IS-04Z1.
SAMS IS-04Z1
An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in London. It is pre-launch: IECEx, ATEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
- IP68 sealed
- 4,000 mAh battery
- 50 MP camera
- Android 16
- Zone 1 / Zone 21 design target
The site · London and the Thames
London and the Thames at a glance: who is there, what is classified
A short profile of the site and the kinds of classified area that matter for portable equipment.
Operators and companies on site
- Greenergy
- Shell
- Navigator Terminals
Classified areas to expect
- Fuel storage terminals
- Marine jetties
- Road tanker loading
- Gas network sites
Local conditions · London and the Thames
Conditions in London and the Thames that affect handheld equipment
Thames Oilport
The former Coryton refinery, which stopped refining in 2012 after Petroplus collapsed, became a fuel import terminal. Greenergy holds two thirds and Shell one third after Greenergy bought Vopak's share.
Field notes · London and the Thames
More about London and the Thames that matters for portable equipment
London and the Thames: rules and approvals
The Port of London Authority has jurisdiction on the tidal Thames, and the London Fire Brigade is the statutory fire and rescue service for Greater London, so riverside and fire-safety rules involve separate bodies.
London and the Thames: infrastructure
The Thames is tidal and London is vulnerable to flooding, a risk that has grown with rising high-water levels, which affects riverside and low-lying industrial sites.
London and the Thames: logistics and access
The Port of London covers the tidal Thames from Teddington Lock to a boundary line out in the North Sea, is governed by the Port of London Authority (a public trust since 1908), and was the UK's largest port in 2020.
London and the Thames: geography and layout
London stands on the River Thames at the head of a 50 mile tidal estuary down to the North Sea, with 9.14 million residents in 2025 and a metropolitan area of 15.4 million.
The term · Ex-proof
What “Ex-proof” means for a smartphone
“Ex-proof” is shorthand for equipment carrying an explosion-protection marking (the Ex mark) that matches the area it enters. The marking states the protection concept, gas or dust group and temperature class, and it must be backed by a certificate issued by a recognised body, so a phone described as Ex-proof should come with a certificate number you can check.
The IS-04Z1 is designed to carry the marking II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4. That is a target: certification is in progress, no certificate has been issued, and SAMS will publish the certificate numbers when they exist.
In London and the Thames. A marking check at the Thames terminals would compare each loading rack, jetty and tank farm zone with the label on the device. Petroleum products and chemicals at West Thurrock may involve differing gas groups, so IIC marking offers margin. The IS-04Z1 target is II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4, pending certification; operators confirm suitability.
The route · specification
Specifying an Ex-proof smartphone for London
A short checklist for anyone writing or reviewing the specification, with the IS-04Z1 status against each point.
Check on the paper
- Marking
- Equipment group, category, protection concept, gas group and temperature class, matched to the area drawing.
- Certificate and schedule
- A certificate number, issuing body and the schedule of conditions, not a brochure claim.
- Standards edition
- The IEC 60079 or national standard edition the certificate was issued against.
Check for the IS-04Z1
- Marking target
- II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4: a target, not yet a certificate.
- Certificate status
- IECEx, ATEX, UKEX and NEC 500 in progress; none issued.
- Operator approval
- Separate from the certificate and handled with the site operator.
Questions · London
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an Ex-proof smartphone in London today?
Not yet. The IS-04Z1 is pre-launch and its certification is still in progress ahead of a Q4 2026 launch. No unit goes into a classified area before the certificate covering it exists. The datasheet, the certification schedule and safe-area evaluation units are available now.
What does an Ex-proof smartphone in London cost?
No price is published. While certification is in progress there is no list price and no committed lead time, and a supplier quoting a firm figure for an uncertified Ex handset is promising something it cannot stand behind. Indicative pre-launch pricing is issued in writing against a stated quantity and site.
What Ex marking will the IS-04Z1 carry?
The marking target is II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4. It becomes a marking only when the certificate is issued; until then it is a design target.
Which areas at London and the Thames would use it?
Likely candidates are fuel storage terminals, marine jetties, road tanker loading, gas network sites. Which areas are classified, and to what zone, is set by the site operator's own area classification drawings.
Is intrinsically safe the same as explosion proof?
Not exactly. Explosion proof is a broad everyday term; intrinsic safety is one protection concept, which limits energy so ignition cannot occur. Flameproof (Ex d) is a different concept that contains an explosion. The IS-04Z1 is intrinsically safe by design.
Does London's weather matter for handheld devices?
A temperate oceanic climate means mild temperatures but frequent light rain, on about 110 days a year. Typically devices used outdoors need good water ingress protection and users check ratings against site conditions, especially on the tidal Thames.
How should I plan equipment deliveries to London?
Deliveries typically arrive by road or air, and the congested metropolitan area calls for scheduled slots and extra time. Confirm customs treatment for imported electronics and any site access or gate checks with the client.
Why does travel matter for terminal work near London?
The terminals are in Essex, so crews and equipment normally travel by road from the capital, and site access follows each operator's induction and permit rules. Plan time for sign-in, safe-area handover and device checks. Confirm the current access arrangements with the terminal operator.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Related guides for London and for United Kingdom.
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone in LondonSame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone Distributor in LondonSame place, different guide
Industrial Mobile Phone Distributor in LondonSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Distributor in LondonSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Distributor in LondonSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in LondonSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in WalesElsewhere in United Kingdom
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in EnglandElsewhere in United Kingdom
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in LiverpoolElsewhere in United Kingdom
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in ScotlandElsewhere in United Kingdom
United Kingdom market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for United KingdomEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · London and the Thames
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for London and the Thames, United Kingdom
Send the site, zone and gas group and roughly how many handsets. We reply by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule.
Enquiry · London and the Thames
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for London?
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.